(( GOODBYE WAS NEVER SO BITTERSWEET ))

[Alexa]

“Your such a nice guy Airea,” Calder gave a relaxing grin. He could see the elf smirk out of the corners of his eyes. “Aww, wait until Callista hears about this soft guy you have,” he chimed in with a grin. Calder waited with great patience for Airea to bait at him, and Cain seemed ready to spring if the dragon decided to launch himself at their teasing remarks. It was Xan that twisted his neck to send them a long, hostile glare that showed the agony that filled his eyes. It brought both dragon and elf to shame for a moment.

Airea stopped and Xan took a moment, opening himself to the feelings in the cave. Most of it twisted and churned in his heart, threatening to overcome him. “This way,” he mumbled, “I can feel her panic, it’s different from the…” he twisted his nose in disgust, “they….they….adore her.” He could feel the love oozing out, all directed at Kai.


A bit of pure laughter fell from the dragon’s lips, Callista’s eyes sparkled for a moment, “he has such a temper,” she remarked fondly. Then again, so did she when it was for her rider. “Cain find’s it amusing, although I’ve become short with him lately. This whole business between him and Melya have gotten out of hand,” she shook her head and sighed, “Be grateful – so far your riders haven’t had any problems…well,” she grinned, “I have a feeling Fox will not be happy when you two come back for him….i’d do it too though – I’d chain my rider up to keep him from getting harmed. Calder holds the same worry for you that Tandri holds for Fox. He just hide it from you,” around her, Calder’s thoughts were not as careful.

“Love is complicated, it’s meant to be, or else it wouldn’t be worth fighting. It is what Kala does not understand, and it will be what destroys her,” Callista said confidently. She had no worries that the riders would fall. Her mind was set, and her confidence was something that Cain often admired and misunderstood.


Tandri squared her shoulders and sighed, “I’m not….usually over protective. This hooky vision has me shaken. And it’s so cliché! That’s the worse part,” Tandri groaned, “I had being predictable, and being uncomfortable around the supernatural. I can’t let him die here. Not because of me. Once this vision clears he can run into whatever life threatening situation he wishes. Until then, we play it my way,” and he would have to be okay with that.

Because she was slightly uncomfortable with all of the talking, Tandri kept walking forward with purpose. “Let’s just find Kai and get out of here. Can’t depend on the men to do anything,” she rolled her eyes and strolled with perfection. She knew Melya could keep up perfectly. “I bet Calder and Cain are joking around, not even taking this seriously…” she scowled at the thought, knowing that she was right.

[Heather]

“They think she’s queen, she’s the only one that hears them beside me.” Airea did not pretend to hold contempt in his voice for them for he truly had none. Kai would have detested him feeling anything harmful towards the deathly beings. After all was said and done she’d still try and understand them while they sucked her dry and left nothing but a struggled effort in its wake. “It’s an odd attachment to find someone who can really hear you. Even if you don’t understand them.” A mutter dropped from his lips as he followed after Xan, glancing over at Calder. A shake of his head was the only answer the dragon could offer, not up for long discussion.


The tunnel felt clogged, and Tabion found he was having trouble breathing anything into his lungs but sulfur the longer he moved. “Rosalind?” he called, coughing against the impending blackness fluttering over his lungs, just waiting to make an imprint if he didn’t shift into a creature less fragile than his human shell. He’d found countless bodies on his way, some moving, some still very much kicking. Attacking really. It was ok thought, truly it was nice not thinking in those moments. Where he was but a dragon, moving forward and taking out what it had too.

“Oh forget that Calli, I don’t want to fight. I’d like to be fought for, not tied to a tree.” She felt a twinge of guilt for inflicting on Fox the very feeling boiling over. It was like drowning, knowing you just had to stand up but hoping someone else would make you. It was childish and she could be ok with that. “That is an awful smell.” She muttered removing any chance of furthering the conversation. She didn’t feel like being guilty, didn’t want to know why Calli knew more about Calder than her.

It was frustrating, and she didn’t want to admit that. The ground shifted and she found herself once more on her back, looking up. “What the-“ her speech was cut off, she hadn’t even remembered falling, nor comprehending something was dragging her. A snarl pulling forward, kicking herself up and finding it wasn’t just something, but somethings. She thrashed and tried to shift but found herself glued in the female human shell she was growing to despise. She didn’t need this right now.



A bitter laugh flooded the air around Melya as she listened to Tandri’slast comment, being smart enough not to say anything. Her laughter would answer all she cared to, “Mh and how does one pass over a vision?” she asked with a slight curiosity, now following her gut towards the shadow rider. It was like following something faint, that shouldn’t be, but you know very well is. “I mean when are you going to be satisfied that he’ll be safe? I think it’s dangerous to put that strain of your worries. It’ll just destroy us, it. I meant, it.” She muttered now picking up an even larger pace as she tried to erase her own words. “You think this has to end somewhere…” she commented watching the endless amounts of paths set before them.

Gaze shut off she could feel a collective stillness in the air, her voice cracking but managing a “Hello?” the infliction a sorrowful sweetness to the ears. The silence was more disturbing than the voices had been, at least she could keep tabs on them. She could feel a general build of excitement however, and the wash of nausea climbing up her throat at wondering why. Kai sunk back further, chains biting into her wrists, skin no longer luminous but cold and drained.